Bespoke Computing Ltd, Cut & Paste - our weblog for Information Technology in the real world

On August 25th, Microsoft will be launching its new initiative called Office Genuine Advantage or OGA for short. Similar to Windows Genuine Advantage, OGA will require people to validate their copy of Microsoft Office software before being allowed to download non-critical updates and other downloads.

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Have you ever taken work away from the office to get something finished? You might have worked at the kitchen table or in a hotel - where is the most exotic place you have remotely worked? Take our survey.

With the business at your fingertips remote working becomes a really useful tool, but it’s too easy to take things for granted and even easier for a simple mistake or miscalculation to cause massive issues.

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The truth of the matter is spammers wouldn’t be sending out masses of e-mails if nobody – including you – ever clicked through to buy anything. We’re talking about e-mails that trick you into handing over bank details (or boldly promise a 12 inch man-hood).

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The exact risk of losing any particular bit of computer information depends on the exact nature of the information in question. Securing your computer used to be about scanning floppy disks for viruses and checking the odd email.

Enter the Internet, lower prices for laptops and an explosion in mobile and remote working – in the last census, 60% of homes had a computer. If you store data then you’re at risk, at risk of being named and shamed for losing potentially important or embarrassing electronic information.

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Imagine the anguish and embarrassment of losing a huge piece of work just before you were meant to be sending it to the customer.  How much would it impact your bottom line if they walked away and gave the order to one of your competitors.

Perhaps the frustration of your computer not turning on is more relevant in your world; funny noises, strange messages or, even worse, nothing on the screen at all - every file on your computer completely gone with nothing left but a complete nightmare and a big expense.

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